While time passed, so did my initial enthusiasm about electronic books. Not that the format cannot be convenient and enjoyable, but I've learned if I have the choice, I prefer the traditional method. Someone I read a quote from recently said that one of the advantages of printed books is that you can "smell" the books that are published on paper. Obviously you can't do that with an electronic reader--yet. But that's not the appeal of the printed page to me versus an e-reader. I haven't quite come up with the reason I prefer one over the other. Perhaps it is because as a member of the "Baby Boomer" generation (those born between 1946-64) I was familiar with the printed page, but just "young" enough to be fascinated by technological advances to be curious.
The book to which I'm referring is shown at left, The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. I posted some comments about my feeling regarding this book on my Facebook page, which is closed to many viewers because I limit my access there on such a far-reaching social media. Hopefully, this blog post will be linked to it so those who view my Facebook page can read this.
Schwalbe starts a two person book club with his mother, who in her seventies is given the grim diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Hence, the title of this book comes in. But in case you think that this book is a real "downer", it's not. It's a celebration of the bond between two bibliophiles who share books and discuss them while Schwalbe's mother is going through cancer treatments. The books are diverse an if interested, you can find at least most of the books read by this duo of book lovers listed in the back of the book.
I highly recommend this book. The only flaw I found, if indeed it is a flaw, is that Schwalbe and his mother have certain economic advantages to which not all readers of this book will be able to relate. That doesn't stop the ability to enjoy books, and good ones, like this one.
